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Goodfellow AFB will house up to 7,500 immigrant children, 7,500 support staff

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services handout photo released on June 25 of the Office of Refugee Resettlement funded grantee facilities in Tornillo, used for housing detained immigrant minors.(Photo: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)

SAN ANGELO — The government is seeking public comment on the environmental impact of housing unaccompanied immigrant minors at Goodfellow Air Force Base.

The comments are sought on the draft environmental assessment, which found housing up to 7,500 minors and providing space for up to 7,500 Health and Human Services workers would not have significant adverse impacts on the base, its mission or its resources.

The influx of people is expected to come between July 31 and Dec. 31.

"It is expected the children and HHS staff will arrive onsite in stages. For the purpose of the analysis, the buildup is estimated to be 1,000 unaccompanied children and 1,000 HHS staff per week. So, the buildup would be over a 7.5 week period, if full capacity is reached," the draft proposal notes.

The Air Force ran notices in Sunday's San Angelo Standard-Times and Abilene Reporter-News saying the assessments were online at www. goodfellow.af.mil and inviting people to comment via email to 17TRW.PA2@us.af.mil by Friday.

San Angelo effects

Carol Ann Bonds, a San Angelo resident and one of 13 members of the governor’s Texas Military Preparedness Commission, has said the large number of workers staying in the community will have a positive economic impact.

Aside from the anticipated 7,500 HHS workers coming to San Angelo, the city usually sees an influx of visitors, many who stay overnight, for several annual events in the summer to fall months.

The last week in October will bring in competitors for both the Cinch Roping Fiesta and EnPleinAirTEXAS National Competition. Heading into December, visitors come from all over to attend Christmas at Old Fort Concho and check out Christmas lights along the river as part of the Concho Christmas Celebration.

“We have 2,817 rooms in inventory,” said Diann Bayes, vice-president of the Convention & Visitors Bureau. “That includes hotels, B&Bs and that sort of thing.”

A year-over-year comparison shows the occupancy rate was 45.2 percent in 2016; 51.6 percent in 2017; and 64.1 percent this year as of May, she said, noting that tracking data changes depending on the number of conventions or sporting events the city hosts.

Residents have questioned how the population upswing will affect the city’s water supply.

The city announced Monday, July 9, on Facebook that it has a 25-month water supply remaining. If the supply were to slip to 24 months, drought conservation Level 1 would kick in, meaning outside watering would be limited to once every seven days and water rates would increase 5 percent.

Allison Strube, the city’s water and utilities director, could not be reached for comment.

However, in response to comments about the rate increase and water supply on its Facebook page, the city stated, "The impact on San Angelo's infrastructure and water supply of a sudden influx of people into our community is a concern," and the city is in "discussions with federal officials about the potential impact."

San Angelo is in standard conservation, which restricts outside watering to no more than twice every seven days and no more than 1 inch per week.

What the draft says

Here is a look at some of the details of the 126-page draft. The full draft appears at the end of this article.

Under the proposed action, the Air Force would:

provide about 70 contiguous acres of level and cleared land

erect temporary structures to provide living and sleeping quarters for up to 7,500 unaccompanied children and work facilities for about 7,500 HHS support staff for up to 180 days

provide sufficient support structures, construction laydown area, and security fencing to separate the temporary facilities from other areas and functions at Goodfellow AFB

The draft states the following activities would be completed by the Air Force:

Clearing and leveling land for the purpose of erecting semi-permanent structures to shelter unaccompanied children;

Allowing HHS to use the Department of Defense’s temporary facilities for mass sheltering;

Erecting temporary facilities; and

Helping transport unaccompanied children from one facility to another in the event of a significant weather event or natural disaster

The following detailed information is available regarding changes to the Proposed Action area:

Fencing would be erected surrounding the entire area, separating it from Goodfellow AFB. Neither unaccompanied children nor HHS employees would have access to Goodfellow AFB.

A separate gate would be constructed along Old Eola Road. All entrance and exits from the Proposed Action area would occur through this gate.

Grubbing and clearing of vegetation would be accomplished within the area. Bulldozers and graders will be used for clearing activities.

Cleared areas would be covered with about 12,000 cubic yards of caliche for erosion and runoff prevention. Caliche would remain intact after HHS departure and site decommissioning.

Water and electrical connections would be established to existing utility lines. Water connections would be established immediately. Electrical connections would take up to 60 days, during which time about 25 generators would be used to provide electricity until the connections are completed. Electrical connections would remain after HHS departure and site decommissioning, and water infrastructure would be abandoned in place.

The network of fitness trails would be removed with grubbing process and would not be restored.

The Proposed Action area would be restored to Open Area and/or Open/Recreation land use after HHS departure and site decommissioning.

Perimeter Road would be inaccessible to Goodfellow AFB commercial traffic until HHS departure and site decommissioning.

HHS employees would arrive onsite in 12 hour shifts via bus or 3 or more person carpool; shift changes would not occur during peak hours.